Health Watch: Are there benefits to leech treatment?

Actress Demi Moore recently appeared on “Late Night With David Letterman” and detailed her leech treatment during a “cleanse” in Austria.

In medieval and early medicine, the medicinal leech was used to remove blood from a patient as part of a process to balance the "humors" that, according to Hippocrates, must be kept in balance in order for the human body to function properly.

In addition to blood-letting, leeches were used as treatment for skin disease and for cleaning tissues after surgical operations.

In modern use, leech treatment has been used to reduce blood coagulation; relieve venous pressure from pooling blood, especially after plastic surgery; and stimulate circulation in reattachment operations for organs with critical blood flow, such as eyelids, fingers and ears. – Wikipedia.org

Show support, ‘Bounce for Autism’

April is Autism Awareness Month, and the Autism Society of America is organizing “Bounce for Autism,” a nationwide, community-based fundraiser to raise awareness and support for children with autism.

At events around the country, teams will gather donations and then bounce on giant inflatable playgrounds to raise money for autism care, support, treatment and research.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

For a schedule of bouncing events and to learn more, visit www.bounceforautism.org.

Health Tip

Did you know it's possible to burn up to 260 calories per hour mowing a lawn with a power mower and up to 480 calories per hour gardening with other power tools? Everyday chores like these are opportunities to get in better shape, tone the body and mind as well as reduce stress.

Tips for a great backyard workout:

- Get a leg up on yard work: Walk-behind mowers are great for shaping legs and burning calories.

- Skip the slump: It's a natural fact that posture affects mood as well as performance. Remember to keep the back straight, shoulders square and chin up while working outdoors.

- Inhale down, exhale up: Remember to breathe correctly. For example, inhale as you squat down or lunge forward, and exhale as you stand up, lift or push.

- Get some green: Being outdoors in fresh air has a soothing, restorative and healing effect. It's called Biophilia, and refers to the innate affinity human beings have to nature and the natural world.

- Use correct equipment: Avoid repetitive stress injuries by selecting the right equipment. Invest in quality and ergonomically correct equipment -- from shoes and gloves to mowers and trimmers.

Courtesy ARAcontent

Number to Know: 45

A recent survey by the Harvard School of Public Health and Harris Interactive found that 45 percent of Americans believe the U.S. has the best health-care system in the world.

As part of the “Debating Health: Election 2008” series, the survey found 39 percent believe other countries have better systems; 15 percent don't know or refused to answer.

Children’s Health

A new study shows that parents need not worry if their child is talking to himself or herself.

Adam Winsler, an associate professor of psychology at George Mason University, found that 78 percent of tested 5-year-olds performed either the same or better on a performance task when speaking to themselves than when they were silent.

Winsler said private speech is very common and perfectly normal among children between the ages of 2 and 5. As children begin talking to themselves, their communication skills with the outside world improve.

"Young children often talk to themselves as they go about their daily activities, and parents and teachers shouldn’t think of this as weird or bad," Winsler said in a news release. "On the contrary, they should listen to the private speech of kids. It's a fantastic window into the minds of children."

Senior Health

Impaired sense of smell occurs in the earliest stages of Parkinson’s disease, and there is evidence that it may precede other symptoms by several years, according to a new study.

Researchers found that smell impairment can precede the development of Parkinson’s by at least four years. The study, by the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System and the Pacific Health Research Institute in Hawaii, is the first involving the general population.

The authors conclude, “Olfactory testing along with screening for other potential early indicators of PD such as constipation or sleep disturbances could provide a simple and relatively economic means of identifying individuals at high risk for developing PD who could participate in trials of medications designed to prevent or slow disease progression.”

Annoying Allergies

Spring cleaning can be an important step in reducing allergy symptoms, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll describe some common allergens and some ways to prevent them.

Molds: These are microscopic fungi. Their spores float in the air like pollen and are present throughout the year in many states. Molds can be found indoors in attics, basements, bathrooms, refrigerators and other food storage areas, garbage containers, carpets and upholstery. To get rid of this potentially hazardous stuff:

- Keep bathroom and kitchen surfaces dry, fix leaky plumbing, and seal cracks where water can seep in to avoid mold buildup.

- Never put carpeting on concrete or damp floors, and avoid storing clothes, papers or other items in damp areas.

- Reduce humidity in damp areas by using a dehumidifier. Clean dehumidifiers once a week.

- All rooms, especially basements, bathrooms and kitchens, require ventilation and consistent cleaning to deter mold and mildew growth. Use a cleaning solution containing 5 percent bleach and a small amount of detergent.

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